Joseph Bonetti

Joseph Bonetti – husband, father, patriot, and spiritual man – those are just a sample of what he was. Joseph Bonetti was born March 15, 1933 in a part of Italy which would be given to Yugoslavia as part of war reparations following WW II. As a result of being separated from his home and family, when they moved to Trieste Italy, he was forever shaped by the experience. He valued family, honor, integrity and honesty and these traits were firmly engrained in his personality.

Joe followed his brother to the United States in 1951 where he began to prosper – it didn’t look like it in the beginning but he’d left a war torn country and was introduced to the world and all it’s problems. He enlisted in the Air Force, along with a dear and lifelong friend Guido, and was ultimately stationed in a small base in New Mexico where he met Teresa Vigil who he would eventually marry, and have four children: 2 boys and 2 girls. He and Teresa recently celebrated their 71st anniversary.

Air Force life took him to New Mexico, Texas, France, Turkey, California, Vietnam, Spain and then back to California, Nevada, Utah and finally Texas. His military career lasted 23 years, where he rose in rank to Master Sargent. He saw much, learned much, and became a candid leader. His career following retirement from the Air Force was a continuation of a man doing an excellent job to the best of his abilities.

He passionately guided his children to do their best and to become more than he was – which was considerable. As a bowler and golfer he strove to beat everyone and let them know they’d been bested. As a husband he forged an unbreakable bond only bested by death. As a practicing Mason he tried to exemplify the principles and hold himself and others to higher standards – he did that for more than 50 years.

He struggled at the end of his life with health issues and left this world for a better one at 10:15 AM on May 18th, 2026, at his home in North Richland Hills Texas. He is survived by his sister, Gina in Italy, his wife, Teresa, four children, Jeno w/wife Joan, Annette w/husband Jay, Erica w/husband Bob, Gerald w/wife Carol. He has two grandsons, Giampaolo w/wife Crystal and daughter Ember (great-granddaughter) and Antonio. He leaves behind many friends and colleagues. He will not be forgotten!